The directors of Venky's, who completed their takeover of the club on Friday, were watching from the stands having been introduced to the home supporters before kick-off.

David Dunn returned to Blackburn's starting line-up for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Ewood Park, Rovers' first match since being taken over by Indian company Venky's.

Dunn replaced the injured Brett Emerton in one of three changes to the side which had been beaten 4-2 at Tottenham.

Jason Roberts and El-Hadji Diouf were the other men to come in, with Nikola Kalinic and Pascal Chimbonda dropping to the bench.

Gerard Houllier made two adjustments to the Villa team which had drawn 2-2 with Manchester United, handing Stephen Ireland and Ciaran Clark starts in place of James Collins and Marc Albrighton.

Robert Pires, who signed a six-month deal with the midlands club earlier in the week, was amongst the substitutes.

Venkateshwara and Balaji Rao, the directors of Venky's, came on to the pitch to greet Blackburn's fans before kick-off and received warm applause.

Once things got under way Rovers' players seemed eager to please the new owners as well, with Roberts sending a dangerous ball into the box in the opening few minutes that was cleared away.

The home side then won a free-kick just outside the box which was laid to Christopher Samba, only for the captain to skew his effort wide.

Villa went on the attack almost immediately after, though, and Paul Robinson did well to save Stewart Downing's low drive with his feet.

The visitors went close again when Barry Bannan drilled an effort wide and Robinson was called into action once more around the quarter hour mark, pushing Ashley Young's shot away after the England winger had tied Michel Salgado in knots.

Blackburn regained possession and former Rovers defender Stephen Warnock made a great intervention to take the ball away from Roberts as he bore down on goal.

Gael Givet then sliced an attempt over the bar after a failed clearance by Villa.

Sam Allardyce's team were starting to impose themselves a little more and Morten Gamst Pedersen's dead-ball deliveries began to cause problems, Roberts meeting one free-kick but unable to keep his header down.

Diouf got his header closer to the target four minutes before the break but Brad Friedel claimed it and Stephen Ireland nodded over at the other end.

Rovers then snatched the lead just before the interval through another Pedersen free-kick, the Norway midfielder curling a strike perfectly just over Friedel and in.